South African guidelines on the determination of death

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Authors

Thomson, D.
Joubert, I.
De Vasconcellos, K.
Paruk, Fathima
Mokogong, S.
McCulloch, M.
Morrow, B.
Bakeer, D.
Rossouw, B.
Mdladla, N.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Health and Medical Publishing Group

Abstract

Death is a medical occurrence that has social, legal, religious and cultural consequences requiring common clinical standards for its diagnosis and legal regulation. This document compiled by the Critical Care Society of Southern Africa outlines the core standards for determination of death in the hospital context. It aligns with the latest evidence-based research and international guidelines and is applicable to the South African context and legal system. The aim is to provide clear medical standards for healthcare providers to follow in the determination of death, thereby promoting safe practices and high-quality care through the use of uniform standards. Adherence to such guidelines will provide assurance to medical staff, patients, their families and the South African public that the determination of death is always undertaken with diligence, integrity, respect and compassion, and is in accordance with accepted medical standards and latest scientific evidence. The consensus guidelines were compiled using the AGREE II checklist with an 18-member expert panel participating in a three-round modified Delphi process. Checklists and advice sheets were created to assist with application of these guidelines in the clinical environmen

Description

Also published as: Thomson, D., Joubert, I., De Vasconcellos, K. et al. South African guidelines on the determination of death. Southern African Journal of Critical Care 2021, vol. 37, no. 1b, pp. 41-54. https://doi.org/10.7196/SAJCC.2021v37i1b.466.

Keywords

Determination of death, Death, Medical standards, Healthcare providers

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Thomson, D., Joubert, I., De Vasconcellos, K. et al. South African guidelines on the determination of death. South African Medical Journal 2021, vol. 111, no. 4b, pp. 367-380. https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2021.v111i4b.15200.